Social Studies
Mrs. Horton - Room C110
Welcome to Social Studies
This year our students will be taking a tour of our glorious earth. We will study the history, geography, economics, government, and culture of all seven continents. The class is commonly known as Social Studies but the technical name is Contemporary World Societies. We will be comparing and contrasting life in East Texas to life around the world. Ask your child every week what country they are studying. Help them find it on a map. Discuss what it is like to live there as opposed to Van.
**********************
Remind
Remind is a communication tool that helps teachers connect instantly with students and parents. I will send out reminders for homework assignments, projects, and tests. I also send out homework tips and helpful photos. Please sign up by texting 81010 with the message @97190.
Smore
Quizlet
Discipline Management Plan
Unit Vocabulary
Unit 1 Vocabulary
culture - a way of life of a group of people
physical features - features on earths surface ex. mountains, rivers
diversity - a point of difference
government - form of rule by which a country is managed
region - a part of the earths surface of considerable size
citizenship - the duties and responsibilities that come with being a member of a community
population density - number of people per square mile
standard of living - the level of material comfort enjoyed by a person
economy - management of resources in a community
Unit 2 Vocabulary
unlimited government - control is placed solely with the ruler with no limits on his authority
primary source - records created during the time that is being studied ex. diaries, journals
secondary source - information that has been gathered by researchers and recorded at a later time ex. textbooks
totalitarian - exercising control over the freedom of others
Unit 3 Vocabulary
free enterprise - economic system that operates on competition with limited government interference
communism - economic, social, and political system which wanted the elimination of personal property
embargo - restrictions imposed on trade
society - a group of people who share common traditions
isthmus - a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger land masses ex. Central America
capitalism - an economic and political system in which a country's trade is controlled by private owners for a profit
interdependence - people depend on each other
scarcity - a lack of goods and/or services
multiculturalism - the idea that several different cultures can coexist in a single county
Unit 4 Vocabulary
human migration - movement from one place to another
push - a move for a bad reason ex. war, disease, famine
pull - a move for a good reason ex. better job, to be near family
GDP - (Gross Domestic Product) amount of money made by a country only within its boundaries
service industry - provides a service ex. banking
agriculture - production of a crop or raising of livestock ex. corn, cattle
manufacturing - making or producing a product ex. shoes
wholesale - the selling of goods in large quantities to be sold by others
dictatorship - absolute power in only one person
Unit 5 Vocabulary
poverty rate - the number of people who cannot meet daily needs in a country
genocide - the deliberate and systematic extermination of a group of people
history - the study of the past
politics - the process of running a government
GNP - (Gross National Product) the total value of everything a country makes
era - a period of time
century - a period of 100 years
contemporary - modern
peninsula - a body of land surrounded by water on three sides
Unit 6 Vocabulary
tundra - a treeless area in northern regions with a permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost)
emerging economy - countries in a transition phase between developed and developing
development - the process of growing and improving
vary - to be different
ethnic group - members of a group who share a common language, history, or religion
alter - change or cause to change in character or composition
monarchy - a country that is ruled by a king or queen
relative location - description of how a place is related to other places near it
absolute location - the exact place, or location where someone, or something is on Earth
Unit 7 Vocabulary
archipelago - a group of islands ex. Japan
technology - the total knowledge and skills available to any human society for industry, art, science, etc...
transcend - to go above and beyond
import - a commodity, article, or service brought in from another country
export - a commodity, article, or service sold to another country
invention - a new, useful process or product that did not exist previously
surplus - excess amount
modification - a small alteration or adjustment
infrastructure - basic level of organizational structure in a system that serves as a foundation for the rest
Unit 8 Vocabulary
monsoon - seasonal wind that blows for months at a time
erosion - process of moving water and wind across the earth's surface
monumental - large; great in size, importance, or intensity
architecture - the art and science of designing and constructing buildings
renewable resource - a resource constantly being recycled and replenished ex. water
nonrenewable resource - a resource used up faster then it can be replaced ex. oil
tsunami - huge sea wave caused by an earthquake on the ocean floor ex. December 26, 2004
Ring of Fire - belt of volcanoes and frequent seismic activity nearly encircling the Pacific Ocean
censorship - suppression of published or broadcast material
Unit 9 Vocabulary
dam - barrier controlling flow of water
religion - people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a god
entrepreneur - a person who organizes and operates a business, taking on greater financial risks in order to do so
civic duty - responsibilities of a citizen
Grameen - "village" or "rural"
traditional - something that is in keeping with long-standing style or custom
rangoli - decorative designs made on the floors of living rooms and courtyards during Hindu festivals
custom - a repeated practice or tradition
representative government - form of government where a legislature is freely elected
Unit 10 Vocabulary
resign - to give up a right or claim to something
desert - dry land with little vegetation, a very warm climate, and less than 10 inched of rain a year
significant - having or expressing a meaning
excerpt - a section of passage taken from a larger work
substantial - considerable in amount, extent, value, or importance
millennium - a period of 1000 years
BC - (before Christ) refers to the years before the birth of Jesus Christ
AD - ("anno domini" in the year of our Lord) refers to the years after the birth of Jesus
oasis - fertile ground in a desert where water rises to ground level
Unit 11 Vocabulary
decade - a period of 10 years
oppression - the exercise of authority in a cruel or unjust manner
instability - the tendency to behave in an unpredictable, changeable, or erratic manner
implement - to put in place
apartheid - any system or practice that separates people according to race or caste
Swahili - a Bantu language of the coast and islands of eastern Central Africa
sub - a prefix which means "under", "below", or "beneath"
reconciliation - the act of bringing into agreement or harmony
execute - to perform or carry out
Unit 12 Vocabulary
tectonic activity - relating to, causing, or resulting from structural deformation of the earths crust
adaptation - a change in yourself to make life suitable
journal - a daily record of news and event of a personal nature
illustrate - explain or make something clear by using examples, charts, or pictures
proximity - nearness in space, time, or relationship
efficient - productive and not wasteful
factor - cause
affect - to change or influence
Outback - a sparsly inhabited or wilderness region of a country, especially Australia
Information
Email: carol.horton@vanisd.org
Website: http://www.vanschools.org/ms/Teacher_Template.asp?UEdit=0&UserID=656
Location: Van Middle School, Texas 110, Van, TX, United States
Phone: (903) 963-1461
Twitter: @MrsHorton110